BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS

(Contributed)

Rians for obtaining Ijottor mootin': planes lor tile Snouts mill Cubs urn in tlio air, and while the rooms at present in use have several drawbacks, the greatest bein': lack of .spare, the matter of replacing them is liv no means so simple as onlookers might imagine. In the first place scouting depends for its success mainly on the unique way in which Sir Hubert Baden I’owell has turned to account certain characteristics of boyhood. Chief among these is what may he called “the {'a no habit,” and the way ill which the movement is organised in patrols and troops was no accident, but- the result of very careful deliberation. There is also what one might term the “secret society instinct” and it is by keeping these well to the fore that one is able to obtain a very special brand of “esprit de corps” which is really the most reliable of two or three sources of enthusiasm in the Scout Movement.

To get a troop of scouts to develop from a mob of Isiys is no easy task.

as it is not attempted by repressing

initiation or imposing uniformity from without by drill methods, hut by true education—i.e. the drawing out of the latent possibilities of each individual

and leading these towards co-operation and unselfish lovalty. Tn this work

I nothing is more helpful than the ’ “den” or meeting place which the hoys can keep and consider as their very own. can lit up and decorate to their own taste and which they can use how and when they are able without interference from any outside body. So that mere permission to use a public hall for so many hours a week, or to share a building with another Ikxl.v will not lead very far and Sir Alfred Bickford, who recently visited New Zealand on Ixdialf of the Imperial Headquarters of the Boy Scouts was only quoting the leaders of the movement from the Chief downwards, when he urged again and again that each troop needed “a home of its very own. however humble.” Not only this but the more obvious plan of sharing a room which is used for other purposes during the week is likely to have positively harmful results—many si-outers would prefer the street corner meeting place to this alernative. Scouting for hoys is a very carefully designed scheme of education in character and quite a lot of harm does result from attempts to tinker with a whole which is full of unexpected essential details. Like the Irishman who was so delighted at having several wheels over after “reconstructing” his watch, any troop which sets out to pick and choose which parts of the scheme seem to suit local conditions is likely to find itself badly handicapped

in actual running. Every Scoutmaster and Troop Committee sets out by knowing more than the founder of the system, though fortunately wisdom usually comes with experience. Trafalgar Hay was celebrated by both troops and packs by a rally in the evening at which a reminder of the occasion and the singing of the National Anthem, with cheers for the Navy were followed by a bou-fire and fireworks scrimmage. Monday this week. l>eing a school holiday, the long week-end was spent under canvas on tho south side of the river. Tn spite of a certain amount of rough weather the camp was sv very successful one. save, once more, in point of attendance—only about one third of the troop turning tin in spite of the fact that the site had been specially chosen as convenient for those who could not | be spared for the whole period.